Washington (CNN) - It gets second billing to the race for the White House, but the battle for control of the Senate is just as important and fresh polling suggests Democrats in some crucial contests are on the rise.

A Republican tidal wave in the 2010 midterms gave the GOP control of the House of Representatives. They also reduced their deficit in the Senate and set their sights on retaking that chamber this year.

soundoff(17 Responses)

Wire Palladin, S. F.

How can anyone vote for a republican in the senate after they voted against the veteran's jobs bill? Even McSenile voted against the veterans. The only hope for America, is that the GOP gets its walking papers in November.

September 21, 2012 07:57 am at 7:57 am |

Gurgyl

This time every one in the nation knows about who the GOP stand for–1% of RICH that ship manufacturing, jobs to India, China etc. obama12.

September 21, 2012 08:07 am at 8:07 am |

onlyfacts

This countries only hope is for dems to regain the house, a super majority senate and Obama. Anything less will be more gridlock madness. VOTE DEMOCRATIC across the board!!

Republicans worried about the senate,how absurd,how about congress.This obstructionistic party of NO has done nothing since their initial seating in 2010 to help advance any of the presidents ideas for helping Americans,no jobs bills passed,no infastructure bills passed,ACA bill failed repealing by republicans 33 times,having riders that obstruct advancing bills all together.Can you say treasonistic,how bout unpatriotic,how bout firing McConnell in the senate,Boehner in congress and get a clean slate this November.Voters especially republicans better heed my warnings,if you want better results,vote democrate,they have Americans best interest at heart,not corporate lap dogs in republicans,its historic politically,just read!!!

September 21, 2012 08:40 am at 8:40 am |

GI Joe

The baggers, with no knowledge or cares about anyone in this country, has stopped all progress for the U.S. people.

Their obstructionism has got to stop. Vote them out in 2012. Put reasonable, thinking people in our congress and watch this country hum again.

Obama/Biden 2012 for a sane stable hand going forward.

September 21, 2012 08:48 am at 8:48 am |

vic , nashville ,tn

Now impossible

September 21, 2012 08:58 am at 8:58 am |

Vidyashanti

Hope people see writings on the wall. Obama wining is not sufficient, Senate should remain in the hands of Democrats.

September 21, 2012 09:13 am at 9:13 am |

Me IN HOUSTON

"Polls: GOP Senate takeover might be tougher"
Tougher?!?! As bad as the GOtP is for America...it needs to be, IT MUST BE...freaking impossible for them to take over the Senate.
If the Republicans win, We as a nation loses.
They have proven that if you give them any tenuous amount of power they will use it to make their rich friends richer at the expense of the poor and our environment.
We cannot
I repeat
WE CANNOT
allow them to win

It's clear to everyone who the gop support ,its not the American prople.

September 21, 2012 09:15 am at 9:15 am |

GOP puts "$" in "chri$tian" since 60% of the GOP believes they should not care for those less fortunate!

Lord, hear my prayer!

September 21, 2012 09:27 am at 9:27 am |

Rick McDaniel

The battle for the Senate is critical. If the Democrats retain control, the Congress will be unable to function, at ALL!

Patriots.......if you do nothing else, vote GOP for the Senate, to stop Obama from controlling the Congress. Obama is a dictator, and will stop at NOTHING, to destroy America from within.

September 21, 2012 09:36 am at 9:36 am |

Claudia, Houston, Tx

Republicans first need to learn how to do their work in the House before trying to take over the Senate, that's why we need to get rid of them in the House along with those teabaggers.

September 21, 2012 09:37 am at 9:37 am |

Rich Parks

The Senate has already been taken over by the by the potentislly unconstutionsl Senate rules that overty empower the minority. It takes 60 votes needed to do just about anything and the fillibuster allows the minority, or any single Senator to block debate on any subject and blackmail the Senate for passage. The

September 21, 2012 09:48 am at 9:48 am |

Joan in MS

Is it true that the bizarre wrestling executive in CT could actually win?? Please tell me that CT voters have more sense that that.

September 21, 2012 10:35 am at 10:35 am |

ThinkAgain: If you liked GW Bush's economic, military and foreign policies, vote for Mittens

Here's something not so sweet:

The unemployment rate for veterans is 11% (3% higher than the national average). Over 700,000 veterans are currently unemployed. Democrats proposed a bill ("Veterans Job Corps Bill") to help veterans find jobs ($1 billion to help veterans find jobs in law enforcement, fire department and/or federal lands), but guess what?

The bill was voted "Yea" by 58 Senators and "Nay" by only 40. And since there wasn't a super-majority (60 votes) in favor of it, Republicans blocked it from passing.

Republican Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn lead the fight against the bill, citing fiscal responsibility and the need to stop using accounting tricks to pay for budget expenditures.

Funny how using accounting tricks and keeping huge expenses – LIKE THE IRAQ AND AFGHAN WARS – off the books was perfectly fine with Coburn back in the day. Now that veterans have come home and could use some help finding employment, Coburn thinks that's wrong.

In summary, $800 billion for war; no worries. $1 billion to take care of the folks who actually fought the war after they get back and pay for that in ways you don't like: we can't afford it. (BTW, it would have been paid for by "recovering more money from tax-delinquent Medicare providers and forcing big tax deadbeats to pay up before receiving passports,” according to bill co-sponsor Patty Murray D-WA.)

Like I said, not so sweet. Pathetically unsurprising, though.

September 21, 2012 10:38 am at 10:38 am |

S.B. Stein E.B. NJ

I guess my question is what would they offer? I hope that any of these aren't going to be teapublicans who don't want to spend a dime on anything. We need people who are willing to talk and negotiate on everything.